United  Brethren 
Publishing  House 


Historical  Sketch 
1834-1894 


'"^i^Mfef^ 


tihvavy  of  Che  Cheolojical  ^eminarjp 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.    LeFevre 


IXnxk'b  (gvtt^vin 
18345!  1894 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2009  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/historicalsketOOunit 


SSSSSIH  HISTORICAL  SKETCH 
OF  THE  tjNlTED  BRETHREN  PUB- 
LISHING HOUSE  H 


1834-1894 


FEB  11  1953 


2^^. 


Us?m00 


WITH   A   POEM   ON  THE   RELIGIOUS  TELESCOPE 

AND 

ILLUSTRATIONS 


DAYTON,    OHIO 

Unttcb  Brctl^rcn  publisl^ing  £jouse 

W.  J.  Shuev,  Publisher 
1894 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH^ 

OF  THE 

United  Brethren  Publishing  House. 

1834-1894. 

In  the  providence  of  God  the  United  Brethren 
Publishing  House  has  been  permitted  to  complete 
the  sixtieth  year  of  its  history.  An  enterprise 
which  has  survived  the  storms  of  three-score 
years  in  the  ever-changing  world  of  business, 
while  countless  wrecks  have  gone  down  around 
it,  is  surely  worthy  of  more  than  passing  notice. 
And  yet,  on  this  occasion,  only  a  brief  glance  can 
be  taken  at  the  events  of  the  past,  and  only  the 
most  important  facts  presented.  It  is  ho^jed,  how- 
ever, that  the  attention  which  is  thus  attracted  to 
it  will  serve  to  increase  the  interest  of  the  Church 
in  an  institution  which,  in  a  large  sense,  is  its  own. 

The  history  of  the  House  may  naturally  be 
divided  into  two  periods,  the  first  including  the 
nineteen  years  at  Circleville,  Ohio,  from  1834  to 
1853,  and  the  second  the  forty-one  years  wdiich 
have  followed  the  removal  to  Dayton  in  the  latter 
year. 

'  For  a  more  complete  account  of  the  Publishing  House,  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  "Manual  of  the  United  Brethren  Publishing  House; 
Historical  and  Descriptive,"  published  by  the  House.    12nio,  cloth,  $1.50. 

Copyright,  1894,  by  W.  J.  Shuey,  Publllher. 


4  UNITED    BRETHREN   PUBLISHING    HOUSE 

IHE  HOUSE  AT  CIRCLEVILLE,  OHIO. 

18;U    1853. 

Previcjiis  to  1834  only  two  })eriodicals  are  known 
to  have  been  published  in  the  interest  of  the 
Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ — Zioii's 
Advocafe,  edited  by  Rev.  Aaron  Farmer,  first  issued 
in  1829,  at  Salem,  Indiana,  and  The  Moiintnin  Mes- 
senger, edited  by  Rev.  William  R.  Rhinehart,  and 
first  published  in  1833,  at  Hagerstown,  Maryland. 
Neither  of  these  papers  was  successful,  the  former 
perishing  for  want  of  patronage,  and  the  latter  soon 
being  merged  into  the  official  paper  of  the  Church. 

The  need  of  a  Church  periodical  as  a  means 
of  disseminating  Church  news,  discussing  Church 
questions,  and  thus  forming  a  bond  of  union, 
became  imperative,  and  in  1833  the  General  Con- 
ference which  assembled  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
ordered  the  establishment,  at  Circleville,  Ohio,  of 
"a  paper  devoted  to  religious,  moral,  and  literary 
intelligence."  John  Russel,  Jonathan  Dresbach, 
and  George  Dresbach  were  appointed  trustees  to 
secure  donations  and  subscriptions,  and  to  publish 
the  new  paper. 

In  accordance  with  this  action  of  the  highest 
authority  of  the  Church,  the  United  Brethren  Pub- 
lishing House,  originally  known  as  "The  Printing 
Establishment  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ," 
was  founded  at  Circleville,  Ohio,  in  1834.  A  lot 
and  two  houses  were  purchased,  a  supply  of  type 
was  secured,  and   on  the   31st   day  of   December 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


of  that  year  was  issued  the  first  number  of  the 
Religious  Telescope,  with  Eev.  William  E.  Rhine- 
hart  as  editor  and  publisher.  The  paper  consisted 
of  four  pages,  15  x  22  inches  in  size,  printed  from 
small  type.  For  some  time  it  was  published  only 
semi-monthly,  and  the  price  was  $1.50  per  annum. 
For  several  years  the  subscription  list  was  some- 
times more  and  sometimes  less  than  one  thousand 
copies,  and  these  upon  the  credit  system.  Although 
the  new  periodical  was  always  on  the  side  of  prog- 
ress, the  extreme  position  taken  by  the  first  editor 
on  the  reform  questions  of  the  day  rendered  it  very 
unpopular,  and  no  doubt  retarded  its  growth. 

The  Establishment  began  practically  without 
capital  and  with  liabilities  amounting  to  $1,600. 
For  many  years  the  financial  difficulties  were  seri- 
ous, and  sometimes  threatening.  "Had  it  been  an 
individual  enterprise,  or  had  the  trustees  been  men 
of  feeble  hearts  or  of  poor  credit,  it  would  have 
failed  utterly. ''  But  by  1849  the  debts  were  all 
canceled,  and  in  1853,  nineteen  years  after  the 
founding,  the  net  assets  were  reported  to  be  about 
$13,000. 

In  1811  a  German  paper  was  begun,  but  was 
discontinued  in  1812.  In  1846  another  effort  was 
made  and  a  paper  entitled  Dcr  Deufsche  Telescoj^e 
was  established,  with  Eev.  N.  Altman  as  editor. 
In  1851  its  name  was  changed  to  Der  Frohliche 
Botschafter,  a  name  which  it  still  retains. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  books  published  l)y 


the  united  brethren  publishing  house  at  circleville. 

(basement  of  the  circleville  church.) 

from  an  engraving  in  the  "  religious  telescope." 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH  7 

the  House  were  manufactured  elsewhere,  but  in 
1850  a  bindery  was  established  and  its  books  were 
thereafter  printed  and  bound  in  its  own  buildings. 
These  books  were  chietiy  Disciplines  and  hymn 
books.  Only  a  few  miscellaneous  theological  and 
religious  books  were  kept  on  sale.  No  general 
bookstore  was  opened  at  Circleville. 

The  Printing  Establishment  occupied  two  dif- 
ferent locations  in  the  town  in  which  it  was 
founded.  The  first  location  was  on  the  west  side 
of  North  Court  Street,  between  Pinkney  and  High 
streets.  The  second  location,  to  which  the  Estab- 
lishment was  removed  some  years  later,  was  on  East 
Main  Street,  the  property  purchased  consisting  of 
two  dwelling-houses,  in  addition  to  which  the  base- 
ment of  the  United  Brethren  church  adjoining  was 
rented.  The  houses  were  used  not  only  for  business, 
but  also  as  dwellings  for  the  editors  and  agent. 

The  men  most  prominently  connected  with  the 
House  at  Circleville  were  Eev.  William  E.  Rhine- 
hart,  editor  of  the  Religious  Telescope  from  1834 
to  1839,  and  publisher  from  1834  to  1837;  Eev. 
William  Hanby,  editor  from  1839  to  1845  and  from 
1849  to  1852,  and  publisher  from  1837  to  1845  and 
from  1852  to  1853;  Eev.  David  Edwards,  editor 
from  1845  to  1849;  Eev.  Nehemiah  Altman,  pub- 
lisher from  1845  to  1852,  and  editor  of  the  German 
paper  from  1846  to  1847;  Eev.  John  Eussel,  Jona- 
than and  George  Dresbach,  trustees. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH  9 

THE  HOUSE  AT  DAYTON,  OHIO. 

1853-1894. 

In  1853,  in  order  to  secure  a  better  location,  the 
Publisliini;  House,  by  order  of  the  General  Con- 
ference of  that  year,  was  removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio. 
A  lot  located  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Fourth  streets,  in  the  center  of  the  city,  and 
measuring  59|  feet  on  Main  Street  and  152  feet 
on  Fourth,  was  purchased  for  $11,000.  On  this 
lot  was  situated  a  two-story  brick  residence,  which 
was  temporarily  occupied  by  the  House. 

In  1854  a  substantial  four-story  brick  building, 
forty  by  ninety  feet,  with  basement,  was  erected  on 
the  corner,  and  equipped  with  gas-  and  steam-pipes, 
steam-engine,  elevator,  and  improved  machinery. 
This  building  was  well  constructed  and  is  still 
in  use.  It  afforded  much  more  room  than  was 
needed  at  that  time,  and  some  portions  were 
rented  for  other  purposes.  A  bookstore  was 
opened  in  the  corner  room  on  the  first  floor,  a 
stereotype  foundry  was  added,  a  new  power  press 
purchased,  and  other  improvements  made.  The 
cost  of  the  new  building,  with  fittings,  was  $15,000. 

The  ofiicers  at  the  time  of  removal  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Rev.  Solomon  Vonnieda,  publishing  agent ; 
Rev.  John  Lawrence,  editor  of  the  Religious  Tele- 
scope; Rev.  Henry  Staub,  editor  of  the  Fvohliche 
Boiscliaftev;  Revs.  Caleb  AY.  "Witt,  Lewis  Davis, 
J.  C.  Bright,  L.  S.  Chittenden,  and  Henry  Kumler, 
Jun..  trustees. 


10  UNITED    iniETiniEN    PUBLISHING    HOUSE 

The  first  quadreniiium  in  the  new  location  was 
one  of  renewed  activity.  Two  new  periodicals  were 
issued  — the  Uniiij  Marjazmc  in  1853  and  the  Chil- 
drciCs  Friend  in  1854,  both  edited  by  Bishop  David 
Edwards.  Thirteen  new  books  were  pul)lished  and 
the  circulation  of  all  publications  was  largely  in- 
creased. 

"To  meet  the  expense  of  the  new  building  and 
the  large  outlay  necessary  for  new  equipment,  the 
trustees  and  agent  were  forced  to  borrow  a  large 
amount  of  money.  This  indebtedness,  incurred  at 
the  very  outset  of  the  new  venture,  as  at  the  found- 
ing in  1834,  soon  became  a  menace  to  the  existence 
of  the  House  and  the  cause  of  much  anxiety  to  its 
friends."  By  1857  the  liabilities  had  grown  to 
over  !?53.000. 

Only  a  brief  glance  can  here  be  taken  at  the 
financial  struggles  and  progress  of  the  House  since 
1857.  During  the  two  succeeding  quadrenniums, 
although  portions  of  valuable  real  estate  were  sold, 
the  debt  was  not  materially  reduced,  and  in  1865 
it  exceeded  $52,000.  During  the  twelve  years  fol- 
lowing the  removal,  over  $30,000  had  been  paid  in 
interest  on  borrowed  capital,  and  more  than  $25,- 
000  had  been  lost  under  the  credit  system.  Had 
the  House  been  forced  to  dispose  of  its  property  to 
B^eet  its  indebtedness,  it  could  hardly  have  paid 
dollar  for  dollar. 

It  was  at  this  crisis  that  the  present  publisher, 
Kev.    W.    J.    Shuey,   became   connected    with   the 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH  11 

management.  In  1804  he  was  ap])ointed  assistant 
})iil)lisliing  agent,  in  1865  elected  senior  agent, 
and  in  18GG  became  sole  agent,  which  i)osition,  by 
successive  reelections,  he  has  occupied  ever  since. 
Mr.  Shaiey  devised  the  plan  of  securing  a  Publica- 
tion Fund  by  assessment  upon  the  conferences, 
which  was  adoi)ted  l)y  llie  Cleneral  Conference  of 
1865.  The  Church  rallied  entliusiastically  to  the 
support  of  the  officers  of  the  House  and  met  the 
request  of  tlie  General  Conference  and  the  assess- 
ments, so  that  the  plan  resulted  in  adding  over 
$18,000  in  cash  to  the  capital  of  the  Hou.se.  With 
this  assistance,  by  a  restriction  of  the  credit  sys- 
tem, and  by  careful  management,  by  the  year  1880 
the  great  debt  had  been  canceled  and  the  business 
placed  upon  a  firm  basis.  The  present  financial 
standing  of  the  House  in  the  commercial  world 
is  of  the  highest  character.  Its  net  assets  are 
over  $330,000.  Its  receipts  now  reach  nearly  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and  the  gross 
receipts  from  the  beginning  have  been  nearly  four 
millions  of  dollars. 

The  improvements  which  have  marked  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  years  have  been  numerous  and 
extensive.  Again  and  again  it  has  been  necessary 
to  add  to  the  buildings,  to  remodel  the  old,  and  to 
enlarge  the  equipment,  until  the  House  has  become 
one  of  the  great  establishments  of  the  country. 
The  various  buildings,  all  of  brick  and  four  stories 
high,  now  occupy  ground  fronting  10  feet  on  Main 


12  rNITED    BRETHREN    rUBLISHING    HOUSE 

Street,  200  feet  on  Fourth  Street,  and  99.V  feet  on 
the  east  line,  and  afford  a  combined  floor  space 
of  more  than  one  acre.  The  buildings  are  well 
equipped  with  modern  conveniences  —  sucli  as 
steam-heating,  electric  power  and  light,  elevators, 
pneumatic  tubes,  electric  bells,  district  telegraph, 
telephones,  watchman's  and  fire  signal  boxes,  etc.; 
and  though  some  of  them  are  now  old,  they  have 
been  carefully  preserved  and  present  a  tasteful  and 
imposing  exterior. 

The  departments  of  the  House  now  comprise 
the  Publisher's  Office,  Book  Department,  Editorial 
Kooms,  Composing,  Job  Printing,  Electrotyping, 
Stereotyi^ing,  and  Engraving,  Power,  Press,  Bind- 
ing, and  Mailing  Departments.  All  of  these  have 
been  rei)eatedly  enlarged. 

The  bookstore  —  which  is  best  known  to  the 
public  —  was  located  in  1854  in  the  corner  room 
of  the  first  floor.  A  few  years  later  it  was  removed 
to  the  second  floor,  but  in  1867  was  again  placed  in 
its.  old  room  on  the  first  floor.  Its  quarters  have 
been  extended  a  number  of  times,  until  it  is  now 
one  of  the  .largest  bookstores  in  the  West ;  and 
its  management  has  been  such  that  its  reputation 
as  a  first-class  general,  as  well  as  religious  and 
theological,  ])0()kstore  is  thoroughly  established. 
The  cash  sales  of  books  from  the  beginning 
have  amounted  to  nearly  a  million  and  a  half 
dollars. 

The  l)ooks  published  by  the  House   have  been 


HISTOlirCAL   SKETCH  15 

iiuineroiis  and  valuable.  Almost  without  exci'plion 
they  have  discussed  important  themes  in  an  able 
manner,  and  have  secured  the  commendation  of  the 
puli)it  and  the  press.  In  recent  years  many  of  its 
books  have  commanded  the  favorable  notice  of  the 
most  critical  journals  of  the  country.  Over  three 
hundred  different  books  and  pamphlets,  of  various 
sizes,  have  been  issued  since  the  founding,  the 
principal  departments  of  literature  represented 
being  church  and  Sunday-school  music,  Sunday- 
school  library  books,  and  historical,  doctrinal,  and 
practical  theology. 

The  periodicals  issued  now  number  thirteen,  ten 
of  which  are  English  and  three  are  German.  Their 
combined  circulation  in  July,  189-4,  was  over  four 
hundred  thousand,  and  the  total  nund)er  of  copies 
issued  during  the  year  ending  April  1,  1894,  was 
6,088,950.  Nine  editors  are  employed  in  their 
preparation,  and  a  high  standard  of  excellence  is 
maintained.  These  publications  will  be  considered 
separately. 

The  publishing  agents  since  1853  have  been  as 
follows :  1853  to  1854,  Kev.  Solomon  Vonnieda ;  a 
few  months  in  1854,  Kev.  Solomon  Vonnieda  and 
Henry  Kumler,  Jun.;  1855  to  1861,  Rev.  Solomon 
Vonnieda  and  Thomas  N.  Sowers;  1861  to  1864, 
Thomas  N.  Sowers  and  Jacob  B.  King;  1864  to 
1865,  Thomas  N.  Sowers  and  Rev.  William  J. 
Shuey;  a  few  weeks  in  1865,  Rev.  AVilliam  J.  Shuey 
and  Thomas  N.  Sowers;  1865  to  1866,  Revs.  William 


16  UNITED    BRETHREN    PUBLISHING    HOUSE 

J.  Sliuey  and  William  McKee;  18G6  to  the  present, 
Rev.  William  J.  Sliuey.  Mr.  Sliuey  has  been  agent 
for  over  thirty  years,  or  more  than  half  the  life- 
time of  the  institution. 

The  present  trustees  are  as  follows :  D.  L.  Rike, 
Rev.  George  Miller,  D.D.,  John  Dodds,  D.  W. 
Crider,  Prof.  R.  J.  White,  A.M.,  Rev.  W.  O.  Fries, 
A.M.,  Rev.  A.  C.  Wilmore,  E.  R.  Smith,  M.D.,  and 
Rev.  G.  M.  Mathews.  The  executive  committee 
consists  of  D.  L.  Rike,  Rev.  G.  M.  Mathews,  and 
John  Dodds. 

At  first  the  number  of  employees  was  very  small. 
"As  late  as  1845,  only  one  editor  (who  was  also 
publisher),  one  printer,  and  two  apprentices  were 
employed  in  conducting  the  whole  business;  that 
is,  one  performed  all  the  work  of  editor,  publisher, 
and  bookseller,  while  another,  with  the  aid  of  two 
boys,  set  all  the  type,  and  printed  and  mailed  all 
the  papers."  In  1853  the  number  employed  had 
increased  to  about  fifteen.  In  1856-57,  a  few  years 
after  the  removal,  the  average  number  was  thirty- 
three.  At  the  present  time  over  one  hundred  per- 
sons are  employed,  and  the  weekly  wages  average 
over  twelve  hundred  dollars. 

The  relation  between  capital  and  labor  has  given 
the  Publishing  House  but  little  trouble.  The 
managers  seek  to  deal  justly  with  all  employees. 
Wages  are  paid  regularly,  and  as  far  as  possible 
steady  employment  is  given. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH  17 

THE  PERIODICALS. 

THE    RELIGIOUS    TELESCOPE. 

The  chief  object  of  the  fathers  in  establishing  a 
Church  publishing  house  was  the  publication  of 
a  paper  which  was  called  the  Religions  Telescope, 
and  from  the  day  of  its  first  issue,  December  31, 
1834,  up  to  the  present  time  it  has  always  been  the 
center  of  denominational  life.  While  other  im- 
portant interests  have  grown  up  around  and  some- 
times seemed  to  overshadow  it,  its  progress  has  kept 
pace  with  the  general  advancement  and  it  still  re- 
mains the  great  organ  of  influence  in  the  Church. 

The  history  of  the  Religious  Telescope  is  yet  to 
be  written.  Chronological  tables  are  wholly  in- 
adequate to  present  the  story  of  its  long  career. 
That  it  came  into  existence  simultaneously  with 
the  Publishing  House,  that  it  has  been  edited  by  a 
succession  of  able  editors  whose  names  may  be 
briefly  mentioned,  that  it  has  frequently  changed 
its  form,  its  dress,  its  price,  and  varied  in  its  circu- 
lation,—  all  this  may  soon  be  recorded.  But  that 
great  life  which  has  pulsated  through  the  body  of 
the  Church  for  sixty  years,  cannot  readily  be  out- 
lined upon  the  pages  of  history.  Some  one,  in 
future  time,  may  attempt  to  delineate  the  intel- 
lectual, moral,  and  religious  phases  of  its  life,  as 
recorded  in  the  great  volumes  which  from  year 
to  year  have  been  added  to  the  record  it  has  made, 
but  the  present  sketch  must  be  conflned  to  a  few 
easily  gathered  facts. 


18  UNITED   BRETHREN   PUBLISHING    HOUSE 

The  first  number  of  the  Religious  Telescope,  as 
has  been  stated,  consisted  of  only  four  pages,  15x22 
inches  in  size,  and  was  printed  from  small  type. 
A  facsimile  of  this  issue  is  published  in  the  six- 
tieth anniversary  number  of  this  paper.  At  first 
the  Telescope  was  issued  only  semi-monthly,  but 
on  the  30th  of  July,  18-15,  it  became  a  weekly,  and 
such  it  has  remained  to  the  present  time.  Its 
form,  type,  and  price  have  often  been  changed. 
It  is  now  a  sixteen-page  quarto,  and  its  price  is 
$2.00  per  annum,  or  $1.75  in  clnbs  of  five  to  nine, 
and  $1.50  in  clubs  of  ten  or  more.  It  is  printed 
from  stereotype  plates,  and  in  appearance  compares 
favorably  with  the  best  of  its  class.  Its  present 
circulation  is  about  seventeen  thousand. 

The  first  editor  was  Rev.  William  R.  Rhinehart, 
whose  official  connection  with  the  paper  continued 
until  1839.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William 
Hanby;  and  he,  in  1845,  by  Rev.  David  Edwards. 
In  1849  Mr.  Hanby  again  became  editor,  but  in 
1852  resigned  this  position  to  become  publishing 
agent.  In  the  latter  year  Rev.  John  Lawrence, 
who  had  been  assistant  editor  since  1850,  became 
editor.  Since  1852  the  following  persons  have  been 
editors  and  assistant  or  associate  editors  respec- 
tively: Ediiors  —  Rev.  John  Lawrence,  1852  to 
1864;  Rev.  Daniel  Berger,  1864  to  1869;  Rev. 
Milton  Wright,  1869  to  1873;  Revs.  Milton  Wright 
and  William  O.  Tobey,  A.M.,  1873  to  1877;  Rev. 
James  W.   Hott,  D.D.,  1877  to  1889;   Rev.  I.   L. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 


19 


Kephnrt,  D.D.,  1889  to  the  present.  Assistant 
Editors  — Ilex.  Williaiu  O.  Tobey,  A.M.,  1877  to 
1881;  Eev.  Marion  E.  Drury,  A.M.,  1881  to  1889. 
Associdic  Editor  —  Rev.  Marion  R.  Drury,  D.D., 
1889  to  the  present.  It  will  thns  ])e  seen  that  only 
ton  men  have  been  connected  with  the  editorial 
nianati;ein('nt  since  the  fonnding  of  the  i)aper.  Of 
these  Rev.  John  Lawrence,  as  assistant  editor  and 
editor,  served  the  longest  time  —  fourteen  years. 


EDITORIAL  BOOMS  OF  THE  RELIGIOUS  TELESCOPE. 

It  is  hardly  possible,  in  this  brief  outline,  to 
make  s])ecial  mention  of  any  of  these  men.  Upon 
the  whole,  they  were  well  fitted  for  the  work  com- 
mitted to  their  charge,  and  were  often  called  upon 
to  deal  with  important  and  delicate  questions  of 


20  UNITED    BRETHREN    PUBLISHING    HOUSE 

church  and  state.  Upon  the  great  subjects  of 
human  slavery,  temperance,  and  other  reforms,  the 
Religious  Telescope,  under  their  care,  has  given  no 
uncertain  sound.  Its  utterances,  from  the  begin- 
ning, have  often  been  as  bugle-blasts  to  the  advance 
guard  of  reformers  and  philanthropists.  It  has 
welcomed  every  worthy  agency  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Church,  the  preservation  of  our  civil 
liberties,  and  the  improvement  of  society,  and  it 
stands  to-day  as  an  advocate  of  all  that  is  best 
in  the  life  and  progress  of  humanity. 

THE    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    PERIODICALS. 

Of  the  six  English  Sunday-school  periodicals  now 
published  by  the  House,  the  Children's  Friend  is 
the  oldest,  having  been  begun  in  1854.  with  Bishop 
David  Edwards  as  editor.  The  Missionavji  Visitor 
was  established  in  1865,  with  Kev.  D.  K.  Flickinger 
as  editor.  These  have  always  been  semi-monthly 
papers,  and  together  now  furnish  reading  for  every 
Sabbath  in  the  year.  They  are  small  folios,  and 
are  profusely  illustrated.  The  former  is  edited  by 
the  Sunday-school  editors,  and  the  latter  by  the 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  Missionary  Society. 

The  four  periodicals  comprising  the  lesson  series 
— namely.  Our  Bible  Teacher;  Our  Bible-Lesson 
Quarierly,  Our  Iniermediaie  Bible-Lesson  Quar- 
terly, and  Lesso7is  for  fhe  Liitle  Ones  —  had  their 
origin  in  the  International  Sunday-School  Lesson 
movement,  beginning  with   1873.     Lesson  Leaves 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH  23 

for  tJic  Siniddi/  ScJtool  a})peai-e(l  on  the  1st  of 
Janiifu-y  of  that  year,  under  the  editorial  man- 
agement of  Eev.  D.  Berger,  and  in  1882  devel- 
oped into  the  Iiilcniicdiaie  Quarfo-li/.  Our  Bible 
Teacher  was  first  published  in  April,  1873,  under 
the  same  editorial  care.  The  first  number  of  Onr 
BihJe-Lcsson  Qaarterhj  was  issued  in  January, 
1879,  and  Lessons  for  the  LitUe  Ones  has  been 
published  since  April  2,  1876. 

All  of  these  ixiblications  are  familiar  to  the 
membership  of  the  Church.  They  are  well  edited, 
and  rank  among  the  best  periodicals  of  their  class 
in  the  country.  Their  combined  circulation  in 
July,  1894,  was  over  three  hundred  and  sixty-five 
thousand. 

The  following  have  been  editors  of  the  Sabbath- 
school  literature  :  Bishop  David  Edwards,  1854  to 
1857;  Kev.  Alexander  Owen,  1857  to  1859;  Kev. 
Solomon  Vonnieda,  1859  to  1869 ;  Kev.  D.  Berger, 
D.D.,  1869  to  1893 ;  Rev.  J.  W.  Etter,  D.D.,  1893  to 
the  present.  The  associate  editors  have  been  Eev. 
J.  W.  Etter,  D.D.,  1889  to  1893;  Rev.  H.  A. 
Thompson,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  1893  to  the  present.  Dr. 
Berger  occupied  the  editorial  chair  for  a  period 
of  twenty-four  years,  during  a  portion  of  which 
time  he  was  also  a  mend)er  of  the  International 
Lesson  Committee. 

THE    WATCH WGllD. 

The  youngest  paper  now  published  is  the  Waich- 
ivord,  the  organ  of  the  Young  People's  Christian 


24  UNITED    BRETHREN    TUBLISHING    HOUSE 

Union.  In  response  to  a  demand  ujjon  the  part  of 
the  young  people  of  the  Church,  it  was  established 
in  1893,  the  first  number  being  dated  September  2 
of  that  year,  and  hence  it  is  only  a  little  more  than 
a  year  old.  Its  editor  is  Eev.  H.  F.  Shupe.  It  is 
a  small  quarto  of  eight  pages,  issued  weekly,  with 
illustrations,  and  its  price  is  §1.00  per  annum,  or 
75  cents  in  clubs  of  five  or  more.  A  hearty  recep- 
tion has  been  given  to  this  paper,  its  popularity 
being  attested  by  its  increasing  circulation  and 
the  many  warm  words  of  praise  which  are  freely 
bestowed. 

MAGAZINE    LITERATURE. 

By  order  of  the  General  Conference  of  1853  a 
monthly  magazine,  generally  known  as  The  Unity 
Magazine,  was  published  by  the  House  in  Novem- 
ber of  that  year.  At  first  it  was  devoted  chiefly  to 
the  promotion  of  holiness,  but  its  character  was 
afterward  modified.  Its  first  editor  was  Bishop 
David  Edwards.  In  1857  Eev.  Alexander  Owen 
was  elected  editor. 

A  strong  effort  seems  to  have  been  made  to  sus- 
tain the  publication,  but  without  success,  and  in 
January,  1859,  it  was  suspended.  The  editor,  in  a 
lengthy  valedictory,  declared  that  the  magazine 
had  "had  a  hard  road  to  travel,"  and  had  never 
been  known  to  "smile." 

No  attempt  was  made  to  esta])lish  a  successor  to 
the  Unity  Magazine  until  1889,  when  the  General 
Conference  ordered  the  publication  of  a  (quarterly 


s<^  (jf^ 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH  27 

magazine  to  be  devoted  to  religion,  theology,  edu- 
cation, and  the  family.  Accordingly,  the  QuaHerhj 
Review  of  Ike  United  Brethren  in  Christ  made  its 
appearance,  the  first  number  being  dated  January, 

1890.  Ptev.  J.  W.  Etter,  D.D.,  was  elected  editor 
and   sustained   that   relation    for   four  years.      In 

1891,  the  editor  having  been  elected  a  professor 
in  Union  Biblical  Seminary,  he  was  assisted  for 
a  time  by  the  other  professors  in  that  institution. 
The  General  Conference  of  1893  placed  the  maga- 
zine in  the  care  of  the  professors  of  the  Semi- 
nary, but  with  the  last  number  for  that  year  the 
trustees,  because  of  insufficient  support,  ordered  it 
discontinued.  Since  that  time  an  organization  of 
ministers  called  "The  Review  Publishing  Asso- 
ciation" has  continued  its  publication,  with  Rev. 
G.  M.  Mathews  as  its  managing  editor.  Gratuitous 
editorial  services  have  made  it  possible  to  thus 
continue  the  periodical  since  1893. 

From  the  beginning  the  magazine  has  been 
handsomely  printed  from  clear  type  upon  heavy 
paper,  and  each  numl)er  has  contained  at  least 
ninety-six  pages.  The  present  price  is  ^1.50  per 
annum. 

The  Review  has  received  high  commendation 
from  the  press  as  well  as  from  denominational 
sources.  It  has  afforded  an  opportunity  for  the 
publication  of  many  valuable  articles,  and  if  prop- 
erly supported  has  a  special  field  of  usefulness. 


28  UNITED    URETHREN    PUBLISHING   HOUSE 

THE    GERMAN    PERIODICALS. 

Next  to  the  Ecligious  Telescope,  the  oldest 
periodical  of  the  Church  is  the  Frohliche  Bot- 
schafter.  It  "had  its  origin  in  the  effort  of  Rev. 
John  Russel  to  publish  a  German  monthly  paper 
called  Die  Geschaefh'ge  Martha  (The  Busy  Mar- 
iha).  It  was  issued  from  Baltimore,  Maryland,  its 
first  issue  appearing  March  7,  1840.  In  1841  the 
General  Conference  arranged  to  establish  a  print- 
ing-office in  Baltimore  for  the  publication  of  a 
German  periodical.  Eev.  John  Russel,  C.  Staley, 
and  H.  Wigang  were  appointed  trustees,  and  Rev. 
Jacob  Erb  editor.  One-third  of  the  subscription 
list  of  the  Religious  Telescope  was  ordered  trans- 
ferred to  the  German  paper.  Mr.  Russers  journal 
was  merged  into  the  new  periodical,  and  the  first 
number  of  the  new  Busy  Marfha  appeared  July  1, 
1841.  In  June,  1842,  it  was  discontinued  for  want 
of  sufficient  support. 

"In  October,  1846,  the  House  at  Circleville  began 
the  publication  of  a  paper  called  Der  Deidsche 
Telescope  {The  German  Telescope),  edited  by  Rev. 
Nehemiah  Altman."  In  1849  the  name  was  changed 
to  Die  Geschaeftige  Mariha,  and  November  11, 1851, 
it  became  Der  Frohliche  Botschaffer. 

The  editors  have  been  the  following :  Rev.  John 
Russel,  1840  to  1841;  Rev.  Jacob  Erb,  1841  to  1842; 
Rev.  N.  Altman,  1846  to  1847;  Rev.  David  Strickler, 
1847  to  1851;  Rev.  Henry  Staub,  1851  to  1855;  Rev. 
Julius  Degmeier,  1855  to  1858;  Rev.  Solomon  Von- 


HISTOKICAL    SKETCH  31 

iiietla,  1858  to  1866;  Rev.  Ezekiel  Light,  1866  to 
1869,  1885  to  1889,  and  a  few  weeks  in  1893;  Rev. 
William  Mittendorf,  1869  to  1885,  1889  to  May, 
1893,  and  July,  1893,  to  the  present. 

In  1866  the  paper  was  transferred  to  Lebanon, 
Pennsylvania,  but  by  order  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence was  returned  to  Dayton  in  1869. 

At  first  the  paper  was  a  small  quarto  of  eight 
pages,  issued  semi-monthly.  From  1856  to  1858  it 
was  published  weekly.  From  1858  to  1866  it  was 
again  a  semi-monthly,  Ijut  since  1866  it  has  been 
a  weekly.  For  a  time  it  was  a  folio,  but  for  some 
years  it  has  been  a  medium-sized  quarto  of  eight 
pages.  The  original  price  was  $1.00  per  annum. 
It  is  now  $1.75.  lu  1853  the  circulation  was  1,158. 
It  has  never  risen  to  two  thousand,  and  is  now  1,100. 

In  1870  Dcr  Jugend  Pilgcr,  a  German  Sunday- 
school  paper,  was  established.  It  was  issued  at 
first  as  a  monthly,  but  since  1874  has  been  a  semi- 
monthly. Its  size  and  price  are  the  same  as  those 
of  the  Children's  Friend.  Its  present  circulation 
is  2,500.  The  editorial  management  is  under  the 
care  of  the  editor  of  the  Fvohliclie  Bofschaftcr. 

Since  1890  a  German  Sunday-school  quarterly  has 
been  published,  entitled  SoiutUtgscliuI-Leclionen. 
It  consists  of  twenty-four  pages,  with  cover. 

All  of  these  periodicals  are  ably  edited,  and  are 
worthy  of  a  much  larger  circulation. 

"Financially,  the  German  periodicals  have  been 
conducted   at  a  loss,  almost   from   the  befrinnins;. 


32  UNITED    BRETHREN    PUBLISHING    HOUSE 

This  is  the  result,  chiefly,  of  the  limited  German 
membership  of  the  Church,  which  is  hardly  suffi- 
cient to  properly  sustain  the  German  publications." 
The  loss  sustained  by  the  House  from  this  source 
has  been,  for  the  last  twenty-five  years,  nearly 
$30,000,  and  it  must  continue  as  long  as  these 
periodicals  are  published.  These  publications, 
however,  are  necessary  to  the  success  of  the 
German  work,  and  for  the  present  must  be  con- 
tinued. 

THE    woman's    EVANGEL. 

The  Womaii's  Erangcl,  though  the  property  of 
the  AVoman's  Missionary  Association,  is  printed  by 
and  issued  from  the  Publishing  House,  and  is  an 
official  publication  of  the  Church.  Its  first  number 
was  dated  January,  1882.  It  is  a  magazine  of  six- 
teen pages,  a  cover  having  recently  been  added, 
and  the  price,  originally  75  cents,  is  now  only  50 
cents  per  annum.  It  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
missions,  with  special  reference  to  the  woman's 
work  of  the  Church.  Its  circulation  is  about  five 
thousand. 

The  first  editor  was  Mrs.  L.  K.  Keister,  M.A., 
w'ho  retained  charge  until  1893,  when  she  resigned 
and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  L.  K.  Miller,  M.A.,  the 
present  editor.  From  1888  to  1893  Mrs.  Miller  was 
associate  editor. 

The  high  character  of  this  i)eri()dical  is  shown 
by  the  decided  success  wliicli  it  has  achieved  in  a 
field  which,  in  our  Church,  was  entirely  new. 


HI8T0KICAL    SKETCH  33 

CONCLUSION. 

Ill  coiK-hisioii,  it  should  l)e  remarked  that  the 
success  of  the  Publishing  House  has  depended  in 
no  small  degree  ui)on  the  cooperation  of  the  min- 
isters of  the  Church,  who,  as  its  authorized  agents, 
have  aided  in  the  distribution  of  its  products. 

It  is  also  a  pleasure  to  state  that  the  intiuonce 
of  the  House  is  widely  extended.  The  Establish- 
ment has  been  growing  steadily  as  time  has  ad- 
vanced, until  it  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  great 
agencies  for  good  in  the  land.  The  constant  aim 
is  to  publish  only  such  books  and  periodicals  as 
will  be  most  useful  in  the  elevation  of  mind  and 
heart.  It  is  the  desire  and  hope  of  all  who  are 
interested  in  the  advancement  of  the  Church  that 
the  patronage  of  the  House  shall  continue  to  in- 
crease, and  that  its  intluence  in  the  dissemination 
of  truth  and  the  promotion  of  righteousness  may 
be  greatly  enlarged  with  the  passing  of  the  years. 


THE   RELIGIOUS  TELESCOPE. 

BY    E.   S.   LORENZ. 


WHE^f  darkness  falls  upon  the  tides  of  men 
That  surge  and  flow  and  eddy  till  again 
The  voice  of  ocean  seems  our  ears  to  greet, 
With  tube  heaven-pointed  oft  a  man  we  meet, 
Half  vagrant,  yet  suggestion  he  doth  bring 
Of  men  who  from  the  silent  stars  would  wring 
The  myst'ries  that  await  their  coming  feet. 
The  passing  crowd  he  loudly  doth  entreat : 
"Come,  leave  your  hounding  cares  and  worldly  ways. 
And  turn  for  once  your  awed  and  reverent  gaze 
Upon  the  moon,  that  with  its  dead,  scarred  face 
The  path  it  living  trod  must  still  retrace ; 
Or  on  rich  Saturn,  with  his  ever-changing  rings ; 
Or  on  red  Mars,  the  torch  of  war  who  flings ; 
Or  view  the  moons  that  turn  the  night  to  day 
For  Jupiter,  and  varied  changes  play; 
Or,  gazing  farther,  mark  the  comet's  sweep 
Whose  coming  long  ago  made  nations  weep." 
Men  stop  their  heedless  haste,  their  hurrying  feet, 
And  view  the  heavens,  so  awful,  yet  so  sweet. 
Their  i^ride  is  humbled,  and  the  nothingness 
Of  human  life,  its  joy  and  its  distress. 
Their  hearts  oppresses ;   for  relief  they  turn 
To  Him  by  whom  the  constellations  burn. 
34 


THE    KELIGIOUS    TELESCOPE  35 

II. 

So  thou,  Religions  Telescope,  dost  stand 

And  point,  in  nifiny  a  home  tiirou^'hout  the  land. 

Away  from  earth  and  its  consuminfr  care, 

Unto  the  heavens  — the  grandeur  blazing  there; 

Dost  pleiid  with  men:    "Oh,  cease  your  love  of  earth, 

Your  lust  of  small  possession,  and  the  mirth 

That  rises  out  of  petty,  groveling  things. 

Unworthy  of  the  soul  whose  hidden  wings 

Do  shrink  and  shrivel,  lose  their  power  to  rise 

Into  the  glories  of  its  native  skies. 

Lift  up  your  eyes,  lift  up  your  sinking  hearts, 

And  find  the  deeper  joys  that  Heaven  imparts; 

Cease  stirring  in  the  dust:    the  jewels  high 

You  seek  so  long  are  gleaming  in  the  sky." 

Men  heed  thy  plea,  and  gazing  long  through  thee, 

They  lose  their  care  for  time.     Eternity 

Reveals  its  dark  abysses,  glories  bright; 

And  mysteries  that  fainting  souls  affright, 

Like  nebula?  that  hazy  shine  above, 

Now  gleam  with  stars  of  God's  eternal  love. 

The  vaster  growing  distance  pierce  thou  still ; 

Add  star  to  star,  till  constellations  fill 

The  great  round  heaven  of  human  thought,  and  men. 

That  came  from  God,  are  lost  in  him  again. 


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